Alen Hanson

In a move hardly noticed, Sox got 2bman Alen Hanson off waivers from the Pirates. What do the Sox see in Hanson that they don't see in Sanchez who has a similar profile ? Sanchez never got the recognition Hanson did early on (top 100 BA prospect list twice), but Sanchez shot past him in AA and AAA where Hanson stalled out in AAA and only has cups of coffee. He was out of options so Pirates were forced to put him on the 25 man this year but he's only been a utility guy with 57 ab's and a pathetic 483 OPS.Real speedster and he was used as a pinch runner in his first Sox game this weekend. While this acquisition seems of very little consequence right now, it may signal the Sox will eventually move Moncada to 3b or even OF and have Sanchez/Saladino/Hanson fight it out for 2b.In any event, it's not a bad move by the Sox considering Hanson is 24 years old and once seemed to have the talent to do something. If he turns out to be a bust like Rymer Liriano If he has some real turnaround in the mid-20's like Leury Garcia may be having, then another low-risk, potential decent reward type gamble on mid 20 year olds that rebuilding clubs take.

rmapasad wrote:In a move hardly noticed, Sox got 2bman Alen Hanson off waivers from the Pirates. What do the Sox see in Hanson that they don't see in Sanchez who has a similar profile ? Sanchez never got the recognition Hanson did early on (top 100 BA prospect list twice), but Sanchez shot past him in AA and AAA where Hanson stalled out in AAA and only has cups of coffee. He was out of options so Pirates were forced to put him on the 25 man this year but he's only been a utility guy with 57 ab's and a pathetic 483 OPS.Real speedster and he was used as a pinch runner in his first Sox game this weekend. While this acquisition seems of very little consequence right now, it may signal the Sox will eventually move Moncada to 3b or even OF and have Sanchez/Saladino/Hanson fight it out for 2b.In any event, it's not a bad move by the Sox considering Hanson is 24 years old and once seemed to have the talent to do something. If he turns out to be a bust like Rymer Liriano If he has some real turnaround in the mid-20's like Leury Garcia may be having, then another low-risk, potential decent reward type gamble on mid 20 year olds that rebuilding clubs take.

The significant line in Roger's analysis is the speculation that Moncada get moved to 3B or the OF. The KARK speculated earlier if moving Moncada to another position made sense. I don't see Alen Hanson as the player to force that move. He is closer to Luery Garcia than he is to Yolmer Sanchez. If anybody moves Moncada it would have to be Sanchez. For the move to make sense, the White Sox would need the following1) Sanchez would have to be clearly the superior defensive 2B. (Or if Moncada simply proves to be a butcher, which doesn't appear to be the case)2) Sanchez would have to show he can maintain at least a 750 OPS. (Stop running the bases like a retarded Chet Lemon would also help)3) Sanchez needs to be better than what is currently at 3B or OF. Sanchez maybe in the short term. In the long term, doubtful.

The same three points apply to Saladino and Hansen.

If anything, Sanchez should play everyday. Hope to convince somebody he is a good young player worth having, then include him in a trade.

BTW, Saladino turns 28 next month. The man is not a prospect. Might be a good guy off the bench. I would not consider him to be any kind of midterm or longterm solution to any position

PS, Maybe the real value in Alen Hansen is to trick another team into thinking they are getting Alec Hansen in a trade

Not spite. I'm disappointed the guy hasn't shown more, as he has some speed and power skills. But recall reading a scouting report about a flaw in his swing and this was before he got hit in the face. Maybe that's why the Padres cut him. They saw that in his cup of coffee in 2014 and may have felt it was going to keep him from ever being a good big league hitter.

Sure the one year layoff and aftereffects of his face injury may still be affecting him now. But he's at an age where he's got to show something soon to be taken seriously again.